LETTERS

Time for change

Posted 1/31/19

To the Editor: How much more are you willing to pay to live in Warwick? Would you be happy with maximum tax increases every year for the next several years, while your services are diminished? Get ready, because that is exactly what is coming your (our)

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LETTERS

Time for change

Posted

To the Editor:

How much more are you willing to pay to live in Warwick? Would you be happy with maximum tax increases every year for the next several years, while your services are diminished? Get ready, because that is exactly what is coming your (our) way.

You don’t have to be a Harvard MBA to read the city budget and figure out that that the benefits that the city pays to its employees are simply unsustainable. We have been hearing from our elected officials for quite some time that this is the year of the taxpayer, however, the only obvious detail that we can surmise is that the taxpayer only plays a roll in the funding formula.

As an example, in July, the city council voted to ratify two new city contracts (Police and DPW) in the absence of a five-year fiscal plan that the city has paid an outside auditing company to perform. Who in private business would increase their overhead without knowing how their revenue stream would be affected and if in fact these benefit increases could be made in the absence of the data needed to make the analysis? That is exactly what five city council members voted to do with your money last July.

After each of the five placated to the union members that were the overwhelming majority of patrons at the meeting, my council member made the ludicrous statement saying, “what’s a five year plan?” Go to the following link and listen to the nonsensical comments made by the Ward 7 councilman while trying to justify the ratification of a contract that “you” pay for, in the absence of a completed study that “you” paid for. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS8OaKfzC2Y) Scroll to the 1-hour, 7-minute mark and listen for 90 seconds.

The fact is that there should never be a statement made by an elected official stating “that these employees ‘deserve’ these raises.” Municipal employees only deserve what the community can afford. When taxes continue to rise, liabilities continue to rise, and assets continue to decrease, the community can afford no more. That is precisely where we are in Warwick.

One union contract is left to be settled. The fire department. This contract has been held due to certain “accounting abnormalities” that have been discovered recently. What we do know is that this department has never operated within its extremely generous budgets that have been gifted by the taxpayer. Each year the department grossly over exceeds it overtime budget, yet each year each the city council and the administration do nothing to ensure oversight of the department.

I have publicly stated many times that the city contracts are not scrutinized by the elected officials, nor are they even understood. Contracts, once presented, should be held for 30 days, publicized, and the residents who are PAYING FOR THEM, deserve the opportunity to question these contracts.

As in the case of the recent Warwick Fire Department contract “abnormalities” that have been noted, we have seen coordinated and calculated schemes that have been instituted without the knowledge of the city council, that have usurped the ratification process, and that have been cause to unjustly financially reward members of the department to the tune of several hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because of the findings of members of the general public and business community, these findings have been made public, a CPA firm was hired to analyze the data to come up with a number that was wrongfully paid out, yet after 11 months of analysis, that number still has not been made public. Why?

More importantly, how does this department continue to get away with these kinds of manipulations while they are supposedly under the watch of a department head, commonly referred to as the chief? The answer is very simple. When you have been the beneficiary of a scheme in a union setting, and you have also been the union president whose function is to ensure the maximum amount of compensation for its members, and you now become the chief of the department, there is no way that you are going to change your behavior.

We have had chiefs of the department in the past who were also at one time the union presidents, that benefited from these “schemes” and continue to carry on business as usual. In fact, the current acting chief, Chief Fontenault, was also a former union president. He did also in fact benefit from the unused sick pay scheme that Mayor Solomon ended (long after it was brought to his attention), has benefited from the change of shift policy, and during the 3-year wage freeze period, happened to make an additional $55,249.20 over and above his wage, during the wage freeze period.

The data obtained by the city clearly indicates that during the wage freeze period every member of the department made substantially more money than his actual salary. Overtime was through the roof, huge amounts of sick time, but virtually every member of the department eligible for the unused sick pay received payment for either perfect attendance or near perfect attendance. Yet the members continually brag how much in concessions that they gave back. It simply is untrue as documented by official city records and it simply does not add up. In my opinion this behavior clearly shows grotesque manipulation of the taxpayers dollars.

The question is – how does it end? If the new administration continues the failed policy of the past and hires the chief from within, the poor manipulative behavior will certainly continue. I am perplexed why after nine months in office, the new mayor has not publicly announced a search for a new department chief that comes from outside the department, and outside of Rhode Island for that matter. We need an administrator, not another fireman.

Prior to being the Mayor, Councilman Solomon chastised this department at great lengths at budget hearings. Where is the immediate action now that he has the corner office? For a very long time, the management of this department are not post-secondary educated, are not from the business community, are not formally trained in business or financial management, and all have been direct beneficiaries of a poorly fiscally run department, at great cost to the taxpayers. This practice must end, and this administration must see to it that it ends and ends rapidly.

The time for change is long overdue in this city. It is time for the new mayor to address the residents with the data relative to the financial state of the city and be truthful, no matter what the facts and realities are. Those of us that are paying attention and have a business/financial background already know the truth, so you will not be able to sugar coat it. The time for change is here. Make it happen.

Rob Cote

Warwick Taxpayer

Comments

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  • Warwick Man

    According to the Fire Department, they haven’t hired anyone in over two years. While atleast 40 of them have left. One can only assume that overtime will be high again. My son is on the current list? Why aren’t they hiring?

    Thursday, January 31, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    On Nov. 22, 2016, 24 new firefighters were hired. That number was 8 persons over and above a full compliment. Since then 32 members have retired leaving a net shortage of 4. (by department standards which are too high)

    Thursday, January 31, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    The answer is simple. All politicians are looking to benefit one group, themselves and their cronies, at the expense of taxpayers. The major part of that group is UNIONS. Give them whatever they want to get reelected. PERIOD!

    This new administration will be no different.

    Thursday, January 31, 2019 Report this

  • Cat2222

    I would be afraid that what happened in East Greenwich to the Town Manager and the outside Fire Chief would happen in Warwick. They didn't last very long and it went back to business as usual. The unions still holds a lot of power in local politics - David and Goliath scenario.

    Thursday, January 31, 2019 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Oh I know I am going to get trashed for this, but I agree with a lot that's being said here.

    Cote is right. This budget IS UNSUSTAINABLE. You DON'T need a Harvard MBA to understand that.

    The question is, how do you keep everyone happy? The answer is, I believe, to write the rules more rigidly, with nothing left to interpretation, and no exceeding the budget limits. In the past we would have a budget that was habitually disregarded. It was disregarded because there was no carrot and stick; no benefit if the departments underspent, and no penalty if they overspent. So they DID! They overspent! This new, non-Avedisian City Council and Mayor are more "rigid". The rules are written and they just need to be followed more "rigidly". Overspending hopefully, will be reduced and maybe even eliminated.

    John Simoneau Sr. is also right. "All politicians are looking to benefit one group, themselves and their cronies." When I ran for mayor, I fought rigorously to benefit "the 80,000 taxpayers that are paying the tab". That is a MUCH larger group. Problem is; they are not as organized. They don't report to a union. They don't have meetings. They don't stick together as a group having "strength in numbers". They don't "have to go to the polls and vote". Maybe there should be a "Taxpayers Union". Or a "Taxpayers Affinity Group". Maybe there should be a statewide law that requires voters to vote. Maybe.

    No PAC has ever given a penny to a political candidate without expecting favors in return. That's why I refused ALL PAC donations (both times), Solomon had a TON of PAC money and now he has to cater to them. If he doesn't, it could cost the taxpayers more. Maybe there should be a law AGAINST all PAC money donations. Maybe.

    The wisest words come from Cat who calls this a "David and Goliath" issue. The unions and PACs are the present "Goliath". If there was a law that required every voter to vote, then the VOTERS would be the new Goliath.

    Maybe that's too idealistic. Maybe.

    Happy Valentines everyone.

    GO PATRIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    Tax Payers Mayor. Still waiting for you to weigh in. I'll speak slower for you....

    Should ....Travis ....Pay $2500+ owed ..... by her Annual Easter Egg Hunt ONLY alleged nonprofit ...... owed since 2011? Should ... tax....sale.....be ..... held......on..... the .....property .......?

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Council and Mayor are intentionally not hiring for FD. This is causing OT to swell. They were told this would happen. Yet salary line item will be down by millions this year also. OT up Vs. Salary down. No one to blame but council.

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Correction,

    The department is down by 3 men, not 4 as I previously noted. How can the shortage of 3 men cause such a huge spike in OT? The fact of the matter is that the system is gamed. For example:

    During the last contract 2015-18, those retirees in that time frame earned $2,526,545.26 over and above their wage DURING THE PAY FREEZE PERIOD of 2012-15. Understand this, that number is over and above actual salaries DURING THE PAY FREEZE PERIOD. So on average, each man in the department earned an extra $66,448.03 over and above salary DURING THE WAGE FREEZE PERIOD. How can any department make budget projections, present them to the council, and then end with numbers like this year after year after year? It's called manipulation, side deals, schemes, scams, whatever you want to call it. But the fact remains that the system is clearly being gamed.

    Mr. Steven Fay earned an extra $108,430.06 and Mr. Thomas Maymon earned and extra $103,827.31 DURING THE WAGE FREEZE PERIOD. So based on their wage structure these payments suggest that DURING THE WWAGE FREEZE PERIOD, the only way that this could happen is for Mr. Fay to have worked and extra 287.5 days, and for Mr. Maymon to have worked 220.89 extra days. Somehow, I just cant reconcile that math.

    That number does not reflect the rest of the department and does not reflect the command staff. It is just a sampling of the retirees from Nov. of 2016.

    Does anyone really believe that this department is being managed in a fashion that is in the best interest of the taxpayers, or is being managed by persons that have an understanding of finances ? I THINK NOT!

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    They budgeted for 212 and they are in the 190s with zero floaters. That’s how OT gets high. Not sure where you get your numbers from.

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    193 to be exact

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    Jimmy. People should be fired, and even jailed for ALL they have done. It may happen yet ...lol

    In this day and age, to have WFD at 220 fire persons versus 173 police officers IS A JOKE. The people and companies setting firefighter manadtory standards/requirements are a part of the firefighter union scam. The people running these firms, and study groups are mostly ex firefighters, related, or better yet being paid off to make requirements higher than necessary. Mayor, and Council should, by attrition or whatever means necessary, shift the WPD to 220 and make WFD 170 or less. We all know they won't because of reelection fears. Not because it shouldn't be done immediately. Go to three platoons and CUT staffing requirements for one example. Usually when they go to fires, the complexes/buildings burn to the ground anyway..lol

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Jimmy,

    If I am wrong, that means that the documents that I received from the WFD are wrong. I have made the aforementioned statements based upon the official documents that I obtained from APRA, which came directly from the WFD and signed by the chief.

    Now, under direct questioning at the 2017 budget hearings, Mcglauglin was asked why 8 additional people were hired over and above the full compliment of 220. His answer was "to accommodate projected retirees. So the numbers of employees in the spread sheet by the WFD seem to align with the city records. These records indicate that the department is down 3 men. Unless of course, the WFD did not release all of the documents requested under the APRA laws.

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    This is priceless. I am sure everyone remembers how often Corrente made statements that Warwick firefighters are paid exactly the same average pay as around the country. Here is what he said in March 2016 (from this link)

    http://cranstononline.com/stories/281k-in-vacation-sick-pay-goes-to-5,110783

    Everyone should read this article.

    richardcorrente

    Cost Of Living Adjustments are supposed to "adjust" up OR down as the economy does. There should never be a guaranteed Cost-Of-Living-INCREASE". That is not the intent of the 40 year old law. As far as the taxpayers getting their money's worth, Warwick Firefighters are paid twice what their counterparts in New York City are paid and 3 times what Jacksonville Florida pays their firefighters.

    When we hire the next firefighter, do we need to offer so much? Can we save the taxpayer some of their hard-earned money and still get quality candidates? Would it hurt to try? The firefighters deserve a quality compensation plan but if there is so much "extra" in that they aren't even using ...

    Maybe we should protect our present team by not spending so much on the next one. The money saved can go half to the present firefighters and half to the taxpayers. That is a win-win for all.

    Richard Corrente

    Democrat for mayor

    THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Yes, you are wrong, and it’s 2019. Official city budget is for 212. They are currently staffed at 193. Dont need any “documents” to show that.

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Does anyone remember these comments from the fake mayor???

    http://warwickonline.com/stories/administration-counters-corrente-claim-city-headed-for-bankruptcy,116265?

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    Thecaptain. I'm confused by numbers. WFD 220 + 8 OVER = 228, MINUS 32 RETIRED = 196. SO 220 MINUS 196 = 24 SHORT RIGHT?

    Friday, February 1, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Jimmy,

    My mistake, you are correct. Oversight on my part. My apologies. Number is 196 so 21 short.

    So the chief stated 2 months ago that on average there are 45 men per shift . 5 in each of the 9 houses = 45.

    45 x 4 platoons = 180. Add the battalion chiefs and dispatch, so shouldn't they still have enough? The point of the argument is that in the way the department is operated it is simply unsustainable.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Captain,

    Dispatch is not part of the department, they are not even in the Fire Union. There are 46 per shift required. That’s 184, plus Fire prevention (currently understaffed), fire alarm and Division of training. Don’t let the city fool you, they prefer to pay OT.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    Captain, and Jimmy: Like my example above. 3 platoons instead of 4. No contract now, and Supreme Court said it can be done. So 45 per shift ( which is exaggerated standard anyway) but 45 x 3 = 135 instead of 180. Layoff all others, after adding required ADMIN DOPES, by seniority, and put on list for rehire later.

    CHA-CHING, CHA-CHING....

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    I understand that dispatch is not part of the department or union, however, they are listed on the accountability sheets.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Corrente's comments

    March 31, 2016

    http://cranstononline.com/stories/281k-in-vacation-sick-pay-goes-to-5,110783

    "Warwick Firefighters are paid twice what their counterparts in New York City are paid and 3 times what Jacksonville Florida pays their firefighters."

    July 26, 2018

    http://warwickonline.com/stories/lets-clear-the-smoke,135648?

    "For the record, Warwick firefighters are paid an average of $47,760, according to Salary.com. Believe it or not the average salary of all firefighters in the entire country is the exact same number, $47,760, again, according to Salary.com."

    Happy Summer everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018

    Richard, care to reflect??

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Yes they are on sheets, they have to be accounted for. Has nothing to do with FD numbers. By the end of the month Fire staffing will be at 191. John any change like that would have to be negotiated. And yes there is a contract in place (15-18) till new one is negotiated or arbitrated. State law.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    Jimmy. Wrong. 4 to 3 platoon shift doesn't need to be negotiated. Just a pay change to adjust for extra hours will need to be. Supreme Court decision. Administration can change platoon numbers unilaterally !

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    John,

    Can you tell me which SC case you are referring to?

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    North Kingstown vs Firefighter case. Providence did it also. But their problem was Elorza was not smart enough to wait until contract expired first. He tried in middle of the contract. Since WFD contract expired, City can do it and just negotiate adjustment in Salary. All those eliminated position with ALL their benefit costs MORE than pays for the difference.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    North Kingstown, yes, and if you read the decision you would see that every court ruled in favor of the union. The Supreme Court ruled on a technicality, the union and the city had agreed (handshake) to terms and the union didn’t file for arbitration in time. A mistake that no other union will make going forward. So the SC ruled that the change must be negotiated but that a current contract was not in place. In Warwick the union will never miss its Arbitration filing deadlines therefore the 15-18 contract is still very much in place. So yes a change is possible but it needs to be negotiated. Elorza paid 8 million to find that out.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    And currently the NK city council realized it cost more and is trying to negotiate back to 4 platoons.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    That makes no sense. The only way it could cost more would be firefighter abusing benefits. Scheming, fake IOD'S, manufactured sick outs, and just plain mismanagement. Common sense 45 less WFD personnel. Less all their associated costs and benefits. Nothing else could explain it. Period.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    You should consult with the NK council on their numbers. You may have less people but you have to compensate them for the same hours, most of those extra hours are at an OT rate. Man hours are man hours and yes benefits maybe different there was no real savings. More hours worked by less people, of course injuries will increase.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    Jimmy. The State and cities couldn't retroactively takes pension and health care from retirees neither, per Arena decision in PPD and PFD retiree lawsuit decision of 2007. But they have since 2012 AGAIN, because Judge Taft-Carters rulings that PUBLIC PURPOSE OF CITY NOT ABLE TO AFFORD TO PAY ANYMORE, allows contract terms to be changed by law. WARWICK is broke and unsustainable benefits and Unfunded pension and OPEB costs . City should go with her finding and change every contract now unilaterally !!

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    That maybe the case. The city would have to prove that. I don’t see it being the case. We can agree to disagree

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    I retired and won in ARENA case but have got no COLA since 2012, while paying 3% compounded COLA for Warwick retires, plus 13% in pay raises for ALL CITY UNIONS since. People not getting raises CANNOT continue to pay for others raises. It is simply unsustainable and better yet ... IMMORAL !

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Not trying to provoke, but it seems as though your COLA was taken from you and you seem to insulate that if it hadn’t and others weren’t getting one you would voluntarily give yours back because it’s immoral to take one. I find that hard to believe.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    In fact you seem very bitter (as you should be) that it was taken.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    I voted against it, but UNION and CITY said I had to. Then they took more from my pay every week to pay for it, and they took away promotion ahead in exchange for it. So I lost money weekly, plus ALL chance of any promotions going forward which was more money taken. So you are right, and for that reason I will never stop fighting for it.

    You sound like a person that should use complete name, like me. Stand up behind your real name and to argue your beliefs, at any cost. More credible that way.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    Jimmy. I can see how you think I insinuated that, but my true belief is that the receivers aren't immoral (employees) they should try to get what'sbest for them. ,It is immoral for the givers (politicians), for giving things away that aren't theirs to give .... taxpayer money, that is known by anyone with a conscience to be unsustainable. They only do it to benefit them at the time, not the taxpayer.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    I agree #100%. I would also point out that people focus on what’s “in” the contract they never look in the past to see what was given up. There is a give and take that is mutually beneficial. To think that the city hasn’t benefited from the wrongly called “side agreements” is ludicrous.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Gentlemen,

    I think we can all agree that the present method of conducting the taxpayers business is not working in a beneficial manner to the taxpayer. The politicians, (for selfish reasons) have given away the future of the city and the next generations will suffer the urban decay due to the inability to be able to pay the OPEB costs.

    We have seen numerous examples of the elected officials not understanding what they have voted on, failed to calculate the future costs, and not hold people accountable. Avedisian left the city in dire straights, but there have been numerous politicians with multiple terms that failed to act for fear of retaliation.

    What the city needs now is a group of officials with balls. Period, balls. The bad news needs to come out and a plan has to be put in force to make corrections. Unfortunately, I just dont see it happening.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Captain,

    If the Politicians have given away the house, why are crapping on the worker everyday. You film, post info, use names, accuse, etc. Your last comment contradicts your platform. The city workforce 99% of them bust their but day in and day out. I understand your desire for a more transparent government. We all

    Do. You miss the mark with your delivery. In my opinion.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    Jimmy, Thecaptain. The politicians are mostly to blame. Unions were and are needed by workers because of political abuses, but it has gotten to the point over the last several decades that the POLITICIANS and Unions have both teamed up against what is best for the taxpayer. The taxpayers are also to blame for being mostly stupid, uneducated, and not getting involved with local politics. All this combined has led to our current state. The Unions and POLITICIANS are not going to voluntarily stop what works for them. The public has to be educated, get involved, and use their strength in numbers against these two identities. There are more total voting taxpayers than union members, and their families. Public needs to get involved and vote to bring things back into balance. Union members get involved. You get the government you deserve !

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Jimmy,

    There are so may examples of the workers screwing the taxpayer that it becomes exhausting, yet sporting, to document it. Moreover, the lack of action on the part of the municipal government just proves more to the private businessman how broken the system is. The vast majority of municipal workers would never survive in a private business setting.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Damn,

    I thought we were becoming friends. You don’t know these city workers, if you actually thought that true. You know deep down they all work their butts off. You will never admit it. Your example of workers screwing you and the actual truth is very far apart. I’m hearing the audit results are coming soon. You many not agree with the results/facts so I expect a full 15 minute crap spew from you. When In reality if you worked in the factual delivery it might suit your agenda better.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Jasjames

    Thecaptain, Jimmy. You might not agree, but I KNOW, that the audit will reflect whatever the identity that hired and paid for it, WANTS IT TO REFLECT.

    Since Warwick City Council hired them, paid with City funds, and the City Council President that hired them is now the MAYOR that needs Unions to get reelected, fir all my previous above posts, I don't expect anything good and beneficial for the taxpayers to come if it. It will protect the Political and Union classes.

    Saturday, February 2, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Jimmy,

    There is no doubt that there are many city workers (the majority I expect) that work hard. However, there is a significant element that has been screwing the pooch for a very long time. Massive theft has taken place at DPW over the years. It has been documented by major news sources and there have been arrests made as well.

    Here is the point. If you go to the ATM to get $100 and $1000 comes out, do you notify someone or do you go back the next day and do the same thing? If you think for one minute that there is no manipulation of scheduling within the WFd then you are sadly mistaken. If you can somehow justify the scheme that was contrived between LLoyd, Armstrong, and Ruggerio as legitimate, then we certainly have a problem with each other in terms of ethics. I know for a fact that the change of shift has been utilized greatly for men to go to work on other jobs. for example, Firefighter TP who owns a painting company and did numerous COS to work at URI Green hall and other state jobs as well. 2 WFD men remodeled a close friend of mines basement. Most of their time there was due to COS. This happens all the time and it simply is not in the best interest of the taxpayer. If you are on the dept. you know damn well that the COS form typically was never filled out until after the fact if it was filled out at all.

    The stipulation that Avedisian put in the public safety resolution was that men could shop for "essentials" only coming back from a call with permission from the battalion chief. You know that is not the case as Engine 6 is at Daves Hoxie every single day at the same time give or take 10 min. Same with Engine 9 and Engine 3 at the stop and shops.

    It is issues like these that are perceived by the taxpayer that these workers are waving the middle finger at us. These cases are not isolated but have been the norm for a very long time. You sound like a smart guy so I am sure that you understand that the supreme court of the United States has consistently upheld the premise that a public sector worker has no expectation of privacy while in the performance of their duty.

    Do you think that there would have been any changes whatsoever if residents like myself dd not make this stuff public? Do you think that the WFd would have stopped scheming the unused sick time had it not been made public by me? By the way, I can assure you that the audit is not good. I can tell you that the unused sick time is in the vicinity of $400K - $430K. This was carefully contrived by a group that knew that for years the council was bought and paid for, and they were allowed to do this. By the way, its commonly referred to as stealing. And yes I have issues when people steal.

    There is no difference between David Laplant who stole $100, 000 in merchandise from the school department, and Ed Armstrong and Bill Lloyd who concocted a secret scheme to steal close to a half million from the taxpayer.

    Sunday, February 3, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    Shopping and COS’s are legit policies. You may not like them. I can tell by that comment you do not understand them. I am not going to waste either of our times explaining them. We can fully disagree but Changes of Shift do not cost the city a dime. People are not taking COS’s instead of calling out sick if they are sick. Never ever happens. Fire fighting is unlike any other job, sometimes yes we need to shop. People enjoy seeing us (except you). Most shifts don’t shop at night, and most shifts shop once for both days. There are other ways to save complaining about shopping is not going to get anywhere. Every department in the country allows it. I’m confident that there is/was/will never be manipulation. FBI report will

    Show that ... lol

    Sunday, February 3, 2019 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    The COS documents are destroyed and there is no accounting for who owes who how many days. COS resulted in numerous FBI/ JUSTICE DEPT. and IRS investigations, with arrests for manipulation using COS. I know for a fact that there are people on the dept. who pay others to work their shifts so that they can work another job or run another business. I would rather not mention names but as you know, I am not opposed to it. So lets just agree to disagree on the COS. By the way, you should know that in fact the chief did admit tot he council that a premium is paid on COS if a higher rank fills in for a lower rank. It is on tape during the budget hearings of 2018 on May 29.

    Here is just one example of how costly COS really are.

    http://archive.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/01/30/system_that_lets_boston_firefighters_swap_shifts_a_costly_free_for_all/

    Sunday, February 3, 2019 Report this

  • Warwick Man

    FYI there are ZERO FBI investigations in warwick. And state ruled they didn’t have to be saved.

    Sunday, February 3, 2019 Report this

  • bendover

    I am not quite sure to make of this funeral home issue, pro or con...I was not there and did not know Mr. Cole....However, after reading all this back and forth, and video, and other allegations, I have a very simple question; Why didn't anybody, including the funeral home director call the Warwick Police Department? Can someone explain that? Is there anything in the police log to that effect?

    Further, I cautioned weeks ago about "assuming" the FBI or IRS-CID is looking at or pursuing an investigation here in the city of Warwick, including the Fire department...The refrain, "I have not been interviewed" is laughable...You will know when they show up at your door or place of work, unannounced, how serious an investigation might be...As the late Buddy Cianci proclaimed, "There are no stains on this jacket." Or any number of elected or appointed officials have found out..."Thou protest too much." They are here and we will find out sooner rather than later...Stay tuned...

    Thursday, February 21, 2019 Report this